Bombay High Court issues contempt notice to CINTAA

The Bombay High Court has issued a contempt notice to the Cine and Television Artistes Association (CINTAA) on a petition filed by the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE). Passing the order on October 22, the court said a prima facie case of wilful disobedience and breach of court undertakings had been established after CINTAA went ahead with its elections and declared the election results on October 20, 2026, despite directions to maintain status quo.

The contempt proceedings arise from a petition in which the employees' federation told the court that the association had gone ahead with the elections in breach of the undertakings given to the court. The dispute traces back to status quo orders passed on September 11 and October 19, 2026, which instructed both sides to maintain status quo and refrain from taking any steps that would disrupt matters pending before the trial court. The orders were meant to hold the position between the two bodies while the underlying issues were adjudicated. The October 19 order came just a day before the elections, repeating the September 11 direction to both sides. Despite these explicit judicial directions, the association conducted its elections and declared the results on October 20.

Characterising the move as a disregard of court orders, the Bombay High Court issued a formal show-cause notice to the respondents under Rule 9(1) of the Contempt of Courts (Bombay High Court Rules, 1994). The court further ordered that the respondents shall not act upon or give effect to the October 20 elections or their outcomes. FWICE was represented by advocates Ashok Shetty and Saveena Bedi.

The underlying dispute between the two bodies remains before the trial court, and the September and October orders were designed to keep the position unchanged while it is decided. The court's October 22 order records that the elections went ahead regardless, and treats the declaration of results on October 20 as the act of disobedience at the heart of the contempt notice.

What the Bombay High Court barred

The Bombay High Court's order freezes the October 20 election results: the respondents cannot act on them or give them effect. The bar means the declared results carry no legal consequence for the moment, and it stays in place until the court takes up the contempt question again. The respondents must file their reply affidavits before the next hearing on November 18.

Why the Bombay High Court acted

The contempt notice rests on what the Bombay High Court described as a prima facie case of wilful disobedience. The September 11 and October 19 status quo orders had told both parties to hold their position while matters remained pending before the trial court. By conducting elections and declaring results on October 20, it moved ahead in the face of those explicit directions. The court has now asked the association to show cause why it should not be held in contempt for that step.

What happens next in the case

The respondents must file their reply affidavits before the next hearing on November 18, when the Bombay High Court takes up the matter again. The affidavits will set out the respondents' explanation for holding the elections despite the court's two orders. Until the court decides, the bar on implementing the election results remains in force. The show-cause proceedings will determine whether the association's decision to hold the October 20 elections, in defiance of the court's orders, amounts to contempt.